Women entrepreneurs carving out a niche in business

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DHAKA, Dec 15, 2020 (BSS) – Country’s women entrepreneurs are now
carving out a niche for themselves in businesses and drew attention of
media by their relentless efforts at their works.

Three women entrepreneurs –Afroza Khanam Mili, Chhadekun Nahar and
Sanjida Salma Poly — are the example of women entrepreneurs who made
their marks in businesses and became successful.

When Afroza Khanam Mili, 35, who hailed from Kadirabad area of
capital’s Mohammadpur area, started her business she had only Taka
3000 as capital. But in the short span of seven years, her capital
stood at Taka 50 lakh. He has been operating ‘Hostashoily’ boutiques
since 2013. When she started business, both she and her husband were
unemployed.

“In the beginning, all my relatives and friends were very much
negative and they criticized me a lot. They didn’t like to see me as
an entrepreneur after completion of my Master’s degree. But I was
tenacious about my motto and carried out my job perfectly and
honestly. And today all of my relatives and well-wishers praises me a
lot,” Mili said.

“I took training from Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industry
Corporation (BSCIC) on entrepreneurship. My husband helped me in my
business and inspired me. Rupali Bank has given me loan to expand my
business. I am grateful to the authority of the bank,” she added.

Chhadekun Nahar, who hailed from Rangpur, started her business with
only Taka four hundred. Now her business institution employs 30 to 35
people. The 34-year-old woman, owner of ‘Barnali Boutiques’, started
her business in 2004.

In 2017, Chhadekun became the first from Rangpur division in the
Women Entrepreneur Fair organized by BSCIC. She got an SME loan of
Taka two lakh from Union Bank to increase her business that year.

Chhadekun Nahar said her family and husband were the main obstacles
for her to be an entrepreneur. “They didn’t want me to do that. But my
three children have always inspired me to continue the business.”

Sanjida Salma Poly, who hailed from Barishal, said she had a
tendency of sewing from her early age. She started working on a small
scale in 1992. But there was opposition from both the families
including her husband. Her ‘Shilpa Kutir’ showroom is situated in
Rupatali of Barisal.

The successful entrepreneur, Sanjida Salma, currently is giving
training on bakery, advanced cooking, beauty parlor work, sewing,
block and boutique to other women in her locality. Now she has a
capital of Taka 25 taka. In 2012, she expanded business taking loans
from IFIC Bank.

Dr. Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of Global
Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), who delivered the speech on February
16, 2019 in Dhaka, said, “Bangladesh is now home to a huge young
population. It has a strong workforce and the young people who are
capable of working right now can make any revolutionary change in the
economy of Bangladesh.”

“Many young Bangladeshi people are becoming successful as
entrepreneurs and many young people are interested in business. So,
there is no doubt that Bangladesh will be changed in near future based
on the capabilities of these young people. One day Bangladesh will be
known as a country of entrepreneurs, especially the women
entrepreneurs to be at the cutting edge of the business,” he added.